Chapter 380: Purchase of Over One Hundred Thousand Gold Coins

Berolla's library, lacking only arcane arts, was otherwise no less impressive than the Golden Feather Palace.

After careful selection, Ronin chose three magic books and one combat technique.

The combat technique "Wind's Instant Step" used wind to instantly boost speed, closing in on enemies swiftly when their forms were hard to catch.

Recently in Coastal City, Ramsey who tried to assassinate Ronin used this combat technique effectively in close combat.

The two magic books were Wind-elemental "Heart-Piercing Wave" and Fire-elemental "Earth's Core Fire".

Ronin was familiar with Heart-Piercing Wave; Wushan Fortress had a mana cannon of this spell, its piercing power threatening Karlos.

Berolla, a wind mage, surely knew this spell, but in recent battles, he used Crushing Wave instead—broader range but weaker penetration.

So it seemed he had held back.

Ronin chose Earth's Core Fire for its ability to melt iron into molten metal, and as an Archmage, his mental strength would soar, allowing him to manipulate external objects.

Perhaps with such mental prowess and Earth's Core Fire, he could craft ultra-precise components?

Seventh-level magic books and combat techniques meant little to Berolla; he promised two eighth-level and one ninth-level wind magic book.

Unfortunately, Berolla was now devoted to potion-making, so Ronin couldn't reach the eighth floor.

In the following days, under Franz's guidance, he toured the city.

Crystal City was abundant in magic crystals and common crystals; even before magic crystal veins were discovered, it was famed for its crystals.

Thus, the city had many crystal shops selling everything from jewelry to sculptures, dazzlingly varied.

Looking at these crystal items, Ronin thought of the porcelain of Northern Wu Domain.

Perhaps Ashen Town would one day be like Crystal City today, with porcelain shops everywhere.

During the tour, Ronin had Franz take him to the most renowned crystal shop.

When attacked in Howling Sea, Ronin had considered making telescopes.

But he hadn't had time to find a crystal merchant since.

This time, he took the opportunity to have the shopkeeper polish and grind a batch of convex and concave lenses.

Such a small task would normally be refused by a prestigious shop, but who could refuse when Franz, the lord's great-grandson, stood beside him?

The owner not only accepted enthusiastically but prioritized it above all else, having everyone stop work to craft Ronin's lenses as fast as possible.

"What are you making these for?"

Franz was perplexed.

After Ronin described them, the lenses resembled neither jewelry nor mirrors and seemed useless.

Ronin smiled mysteriously. "You'll see in the future."

Franz shrugged. "Alright. Next, we should head to the Mana Consortium; the Spirit Spring you requested has been retrieved."

Ronin nodded and immediately headed toward Silva Mana Consortium headquarters.

True to its status, it sold many potions, including Spirit Spring and even Starlight Grass.

Starlight Grass grew on vast grasslands, glowing at night—beautiful but highly toxic, used for poison, priced at 200 gold per plant.

Spirit Spring was a specialty of Purple Crystal Domain, containing magic energy, purification, and healing properties, saving lives in critical moments, and used by high-level mages.

Thus, Spirit Spring was expensive, 100 gold per milliliter!

After purchasing, Ronin bought one liter of Spirit Spring and one hundred plants of Starlight Grass.

Thus, the two most critical ingredients for the Awakening Potion were secured; the remaining magical containers and beast blood powder could be handled by Elron.

Yet when he arrived, Ronin had over 130,000 gold; upon leaving, only 16,000 remained.

In less than an hour, he spent 120,000 gold; even with ample funds, it stung.

Fortunately, thinking of Elron crafting the Awakening Potion eased his pain.

Some would be for his own use, some for sale; with its effects, it would fetch a high price.

Some noble descendants were ordinary people who wished to become extraordinary.

Seven days later, Berolla emerged from the laboratory.

The Archmage's mental strength was unquestionable, but after days of intense research, Berolla showed fatigue.

Physical fatigue was minor; the real toll was mental exhaustion.

After days of research, he confirmed dragon scales were far superior to griffin or snake scales; the resulting potion would be worth the wait.

But what drove him mad was his inability to balance dragon scales with other ingredients, leading to complete failure in all attempts.

Wasted one dragon scale.

Reluctantly, he had to ask Ronin for more dragon scales.

Though 500,000 gold weren't yet collected, Berolla offered five hundred magic crystals and several magic books; Ronin handed over the remaining four dragon scales.

"Then it's settled. You must come to Crystal City in a month!"

On the eighth floor of the mage tower, Berolla reminded Ronin.

Originally, Berolla estimated two months to gather 500,000 gold, but Ronin's 120,000 gold expenditure shortened the timeline.

According to his grandson Randall's estimate, the remaining amount would be gathered in about a month.

"Rest assured, Mr. Berolla. In a month, I'll bring the remaining dragon scales."

Ronin bid farewell with a smile.

With Berolla's emergence, Ronin successfully obtained two eighth-level magic books and one ninth-level magic book.

Additionally, Ronin received the design blueprints for the mana elevator.

In Berolla's view, the mana elevator had little mass-market potential, so he not only gave Ronin the blueprints but also explained the method for crafting the base wheels.

Simply put, a fire Archmage would melt iron into molten metal using Earth's Core Fire, and Berolla's immense mental strength would shape it mid-air.

Hearing this, Ronin realized the wisdom of choosing Earth's Core Fire and even found a side business—master craftsman.

Once he became an Archmage, he could use this method to craft various items.

Soon, Karlos appeared outside the eighth floor of the mage tower.

Ronin leaped onto the dragon's back and waved goodbye to Berolla and Franz.

This trip to Crystal City was concluded; his goals were fully achieved, and he even gained Berolla's friendship.

With an Archmage's guarantee, whether Karlos was exposed or not no longer mattered.

Watching the dragon soar into the sky, Berolla sighed.

"In these days together, what do you think of Ronin?"

Franz replied respectfully. "He has much to teach me, like his focus during magic practice and learning ability. Yet sometimes his thoughts leap too quickly; it's hard to know what he's thinking."

Franz mentioned the lenses and the over 100,000 gold spent on potions again.

Berolla was curious. "Go ask the crystal merchant to make another batch of those lenses for me to see."

He wondered internally. "What potion would combine Spirit Spring and Starlight Grass?"

Berola pondered a moment, then shook his head.

He gazed at the four dragon scales clutched in his hand, resolve etched upon his features: "This time, I must succeed!"

(End of Chapter)